With graduation season nearly upon us, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2017’s Best and Worst Entry-Level Jobs.
Taking stock of the first-timer employment landscape, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 100 different types of entry-level positions based on 12 key metrics.
The data set ranges from median starting salary to projected job growth by 2024 to median tenure with employer.
| Best Entry-Level Jobs | Worst Entry-Level Jobs | ||||
| 1. | Engineer I | 100. | Sheetmetal Mechanic I | ||
| 2. | Systems Engineer I | 101. | Machinist I | ||
| 3. | Architect I | 102. | Carpenter I | ||
| 4. | Web Applications Developer I | 103. | Aircraft Painter I | ||
| 5. | Electrical Engineer I | 104. | Automotive Mechanic I | ||
| 6. | Safety Representative I | 105. | Tool and Die Maker I | ||
| 7. | Training Specialist I | 106. | Plumber I | ||
| 8. | Software Engineer I | 107. | Boilermaker I | ||
| 9. | Electronics Engineer I | 108. | Floor Assembler I | ||
| 10. | Chemical Engineer I | 109. | Welder I | ||
Best vs. Worst
- Tax attorneys have the highest median starting salary, $93,899, which is 5.8 times higher than that of a college teaching assistant, the job with the lowest at $16,077.
- Employee-relations specialists have the highest income growth potential, 6.2, which is 3.4 times higher than that of a bank teller, the job with the lowest at 1.8.
- Benefits administrators have the longest median tenure with their employers, 6.3 years, which is two times higher than that of a certified occupational-therapy assistant, the job with the shortest at 3.1 years.
- Certified occupational-therapy assistants have the highest projected job growth by 2024, 42.7 percent.
- Although web-application developers and software engineers are among the 10 best entry-level jobs, computer operators have the grimmest job outlook, with 19 percent of jobs in the field projected to be cut by 2024.
For a complete list of the 100 different jobs click here.
